Picture-exhibitor.



, PATENTE-'2D DEG. 27, 1904. C. W.' ANDERSON. PICTURE EXHIBITOR.

APPLIGATION FILED 00129, wos.

waff/@S www@ PATENTED DEC. 27, 1.9 04.

G. W. ANDEILSON.

2 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

Q v 4 ./,w/ S 2 m 7T 0W im 4 .s ym# M ,mn/m, l. im. [11W/V111, o t wm f 6-,/ H, 6W., VMM/111W@ ...j W M i/ fa. S y j o gf f iQ/m 1 DERsoN, a citizen of the United States, residr UNITED STATES Patented. December 27, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

:CHARLES WILLIAM ANDERSON, OF BISBEE, ARIZONA TERRITORY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY WM. AIKEN, OF BISBEE,

'Y ARIzoNA TERRITORY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 778,347, dated December 27, 1904. I Application iiled October 29, 1903. Serial No. 179,044. f

TOcLZZ whom, it Matty concern: 'i

Be it known that I, CHARLES WILLIAM AN.-

ing at Bisbee, in the county of Cochise and Territory of Arizona, have invented a new and useful Picture-Exhibitor, of which the followingis a speciiication. i

This invention relates to picture-exhibitors, and more especially to that type of pictureexhibitors in which aplurality'of pictures mountedfupon a web are exhibited by causing the web to travel across an opening in -the casing of the machine.

The principal object of the invention is to improve the construction of picture'- exhibitors of the class-specified by providing irnproved means for controlling the movement of the web upon which the pictures aremounted, by providing improved spools upon which to wind the web, and by providing improved means for supporting the spools Within the apparatus. Y

`In attaining the objects above mentioned I mak-e useof the apparatus shown in some- What difierentforms in the accompanying drawings, described in the following sp'eciiication, and having novel features thereof particularly pointed out in the appended claims. In the drawings, Figure 1 is aviewin horizontal Vsection through the motor-operated exhibitor. Fig. 2 is a view-in vertical longitudinal section through the motor-operated exhibitor. Fig. 3 is a detail view'showing the catches by which the rock-shaft is held in different positions. Fig. t is al longitudinal vertical section through a hand-operated exhibitor looking from the rear, a fragmentary pori tion of the back of the casing being included sponding parts are designated by similar charto show-the rear removable slide having a rectangular exposure-opening. Fig. isadetail View, .partly in side elevation andy partly in section, showing the'mode in mounting one of the guide-rolls in the hand-operated exhibitor. j o

Referring to the drawings, in which correacters of reference, C in Fig. 4 designates the the bottom of one of the spools.

Vlatter of which has a rectangular opening 3.

The slides 1 and 2 are interchangeable, so that the opening made in the slide in. frontof the picture-carrying web may be adapted in form to the pictures to be exhibited.

In the preferredform of the device each of the slides will be provided With a piece of glass 5 to till the opening therein and exclude dust and dirt from thev interior of the exhibitor.

The mechanism of the exhibitor is supported Within the casing O in a rectangular metallic frame F, which is preferably set in the casing and is rigidly secured in position by any preferredl fastening means. F consistsof top and bottom portions 6 and 7, respectively, and end portions8, the latter being disposed adjacent to the end walls of the casing of the exhibitor. The frame F has mounted on the bottom member 7 thereofv two rotatable disks 10, each of Which is provided at its periphery with beveled gearteeth 11 and is also disposed adjacent to one end of the frame where the beveled gearteeth 11 may mesh with similar teeth upon a beveled gear 12,' supported on a shaft 13, which turns in bearings provided for it in one of the end members 8 of the frame F. The shafts 13`extend through the end walls of the casing C and bear on theirfouter ends handwheels -14,by means of which vrotary movementA may be imparted to the shafts. The disks 10 are provided to afford support for Web-carrying spools S, and each disk is provided at the center of its uppersurface with an upwardly-projecting stud 16,. which is adapted to en ter a socket provided therefor in Each of the disks is also provided at a point between Vthe center and the -periphery with another upwardly-projecting stud, 17, which -is The frame lower-y than the stud 16 and is adapted to enter an opening 18 in the bottom flange of one of the spools S.

To prevent displacement of the spools from their positions upon the disks 10, threaded spindles 19 are mounted in the top member 6 of the frame and are provided with reduced lower ends 20 for entrance into sockets in the upper ends of the web-carrying spools. The spindles 19 are provided on their upper ends with heads 21, by which the spindles may be turned to raise or lower them, as may be necessary to introduce or secure the spools within the casing.

In order to hold the picture-carrying web W in close proximity to the slide at the front of the casing, guide-rolls 22 are journaled in brackets 23, extending forward from the top and bottom members of the frame F. The rolls 22 are removably supported in the brackets, each roll having in one end a spring-supported block 24, (shown in Fig. 5,) which has a projection 25, which forms one of the journals upon which the roll turns. When it is desired to remove one of the rolls 22 from its bearings, the block 24 may be forced back into the roll sufliciently to permit the other journal to be displaced from its bearings.

In order to keep the picture-carrying web under sulficient vtension at all times, springs 26, having downwardly-bent ends 27, are rigidly attached to the top member 6 of the frame F in such position that the bent ends 27 rest upon the upper flanges of the webcarrying spools S. The pressure exerted by the springs upon the spools may be regulated by means of screws 28, mounted in threaded openings in the upper frame member 6 and having their lower ends disposed above the springs 26.

In using the exhibitor as described in the preceding paragraphs the spool upon which the picture-web is wound will be secured upon one of the disks 10, and the end of the web will be passed in front of the guide-rolls and then secured in any preferred manner, as by means of a hook, (not shown,) upon the other spool. rI`he pressure of the spring 26 upon the spool upon which the web is wound will then be adjusted to any desired degree, and the slide 1 or 2, as may be best adapted to the form of the pictures of the web, will be placed in position at the front of the casing. Motion will then be imparted to the disk supporting the spool upon which the web is to be wound by turning` the wheel 14 at that end of the casing, the rate of travel of the web behind the opening in the slide being controlled by the rate at which the wheel 14 is turned. With this form of the invention the rate at which the pictures are changed may be varied by the operator to suit his convenience, and this form of the invention is intended for use in 1exhibiting pictures to oneI person at a time on y.

Vhen it is desired to exhibit pictures to a number of persons simultaneously or to exhibit other pictures than those which may he conveniently displayed by means of the appm ratus already described, it is desirable to employ an apparatus of the form exhibited in Figs. 1 and 2, in which the power necessary to impart movement to the pieture-carryng web is furnished by the motor and the rate and direction of travel of the web controlled by means of devices especially provided for that purpose.

In the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 the easing C is similar in general features to the casing already described, being rectangular in form and being` provided with slides $30 and 31 at the front and back of the apparatus. The slide 30 is provided with a rectangular opening 32, and the slide 31 is provided with an oval opening 33, the slides being intel'- changeable to adapt the form of opening to the form of the pictures to be displayed. 'll he openings are preferably covered with pieces of glass 34.

rIhe exhibiting mechanism is supported within the casing Cf, being mounted in a rectangular metallic frame F, which is secured by screws or other suitable fastening means within the casing. At one end of the frame F is mounted a motor, designated generally as M and preferably of the type driven by means of a coiled spring, which may be wound by means of a crank 35, which lits over a square shaft 3G, which projects through the adjacent end wall of the casing C'.

The speed of the motor is controlled and regulated by means of a governor 37 of ordinary centrifugal type, to which motion is imparted by one of the pinions on the motor. The starting and stopping of thc motor is effected by means of a screw 3S,which is mounted in the end of the casing, with the head projecting through an opening therein. The screw 38 has its inner end in contact with a pivoted arm 40, one end of which rests upon a disk 41,rigidly connected,with the governor 37. The arm 40, the end of which presses upon the disk 41, is provided with a brakeshoe 42, of leather or other suitable material, to engage frictionally with the disk 41 and prevent rotation thereof when suliicient pressure is exerted by the arm.

The web-carrying spools 43 are supported upon disks 44, rotatably mounted upon supporting-braekets 45, which are attached to the bottom members of the frame F. The disks 44 are provided at their peripheries with beveled gear-teeth to mesh with beveled gears 46 upon a driving-shaft 47, which is journaled in the brackets 45 below the disks 44. '.l`he

disks 44 are provided on their upper surfaces with centrally-placed studs 48 for engagement with centra-l sockets in the lower ends of the web-carrying spools and with eccentricallyplaced studs 49 for engagement with suitably- IOO placed openings inthe bottom 'iianges of the web-carrying spools. y The upper ends of the spools are held in position by spring-pressed spindles 50, having reduced ends 51 and slidably mounted in sleeves 52,attached to the top member of the frame F. The spindles engage with sockets provided for that purpose in the upper endsof theweb-carrying spools, and being spring-pressed they are normally held in engagement with thesockets in the spools, but are susceptible of retraction to release the spools from engagement therewith and from engagement with the studs upon the disks 44. The driving-shaft 47 is rotatably and slidably supported in the bearings afforded by the brackets 45, and motion is imp arted to s aid Shaft by means of a pinionlof the motor, which meshes with an elongated pinion 53 at one end of the shaft. Longitudinal movement is imparted to the shaft by means of a bell-crank lever 54, which is mounted in the frame F and has a bifurcated end which fits between two collars 55 and 56, mounted on the adjacent end of the shaft 47. This bell-crank lever is rocked by means of a rod 57,. slidably mounted in guides 58 at one end of the frame F and having a hooked lower end which engages with the bell-crank lever. rlhe rod 57 is provided at its upper end with a head 59, by means of which it may be conveniently reciprocated, and it is 'held in raised or lowered position by means of a spring-catch 60, which engages with a cross-piece 61', rigidly attached to the rod and adapted to prevent rotation of the rod, with consequent disengagement of the hook at its extremity, and the bell-crank lever.

'The web W is guided by guide-rolls 65, rotatably mounted in brackets 66, which lare rigidly secured within the frame F and project forward into close proximity to the front of the casing v The requisite tension of the picture-web Wlk isv maintained when the web is traveling in either'direction by means of brake-springs 70,' which are mounted upon a rock-shaft 71, supported in bearing-brackets 72 between the spindles 50. The rock-shaft 71 has projecting upward therefrom an arm 73, which passes through an opening 74 in the top of the casing C and is secured in one end of the opening o'r the other by means of springcatches 7 5 of the form shown. in Fig. 3. rlhe springs 70 are so disposed relative to the rocki shaft 71 that when one ofthe springs is in contact with the upper fiange of one of the be out of contact with the other.

quently by shifting the arm 7 3 the spring en-- web-carrying spools 43 the other spring will )onsegaging one spool may be thrown out of op eration and the otherspring be-brought into engagement with the other spool.

To facilitate the view of the pictures on the web, a support 80 .of any suitable construction is mounted on the front of the casing Cf, and a magnifying-glass 81 is ad justably mounted in the support in such position that it may y versa.

be moved toward or laway from the picture?" carrying web in order to secure accurate focus on the picture exposed to view. This support and glass are by no means necessary, howl ever, asthe desired magnification may be obtained by means of an ordinary reading-glass held in the hand, and in many cases the use of a glass to magnify the picture 'will be undesirable. When it is not desired to magnify the picture, the glass 8l may be easily removed from the support or swung to one side .upon the hinge 81, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, where it will not interfere with the view of the picture.

In both formsy of the apparatus described the pictures must necessarily be flexible, and

4they may be mounted upon the web or may spool to another is accomplished by means of a motor, the reversal of the direction of movement of the web is accomplished by shifting thedriving-shaft 47 longitudinally in its bearings. When the ,driving-shaft is pushed to the right, as shown in solid lines in Fig. 2,.

one of the gears 46 on the shaft will bein mesh with the gear-teeth on the disk 44 at the right of the machine, and when the shaft is shifted. to the left, a's shown in dotted lines, the other gear will be broughtinto engagement with the teeth on the disk 44 adjacent "to the other end of the machine. y As the two gears 46 are arranged to mesh with opposite IOO IOS

sides of the disks 44, itV will be obvious that notwithstanding the fact that the direction of movement of the motor is unchanged the direction ofY travel of the web will be reversed .by shifting the shaft 47 from its solid-line position to its dotted-line position, or vicev If it is desired to stop the movement of the j the mot'orto run unimpeded while-theweb remains stationary. l

ln the operation of the larger form of eX- hibitor the spools (one completely wound and the other practically empty) will be mounted upon the disks y44with the studs'on the disks in engagement with the openings provided therefor in the bottom of the spools, and the upper ends of the spools will be secured by means of the spring-pressed spindles 50. The

rock-shaft 71 will be set in position to bring the spring on one end thereof into engagement with the upper end of the spool upon Which the web is wound, and the drivingshaft Will be set in position to impart movement to the empty spool. The members having been adjusted in the manner explained and the web having been passed over the guiderolls and its end attached to the empty spool, the motor may be set in operation by turning the screw 38 and reducing the pressure of the arm 40 upon the disk 41, connected with the governor 37. By varying the pressure of the arm 40 on the disk 41 the speed of movement imparted to the Web W' will be perfectly controlled, and the pressure of the spring 7 0 upon the Wound spool will keep the Web at such tension that the pictures will be properly displayed and slack in the web prevented.

Whenever it is desired to reverse the direction of movement of the web, the shaft 47 will be shifted in position by means of the mechanism provided for that purpose, and change in the direction of movement can be accomplished Without the necessity of stopping the motor. It will, however, be necessary Whenever the direction of the movement of the Web is changed to shift the position of the rock-shaft 71 in order to keep the brake in operation upon the spool from which the web is to be unwound. In default of such change in position of the shaft 71 the spool from which the web is to be unwound will run too freely and so much slack in the web will be produced that clear view of the pictures will be rendered impossible.

As the form of motor employed in connection with the exhibiting apparatus forms no part of the invention, I have described the same in general terms only and have not illustrated the details of construction. Furthermore, the character' of the motor employed may be varied without in any way affecting' the construction of the remainder of the apparatus, and I wish it to be understood that the spring-motor shown may be replaced by any other preferred form of motor when it is desirable to do so.

By substituting for a motor adapted to operate continuously a motor adapted to produce intermittent movement of the web-earrying spools the apparatus may be made to expose each picture to View for a definite period and then shift it quickly out of position and then bring another into view for a same length of time. If such a motor be employed, it Will merely take the place of that shown and need not necessitate the alteration in any Way of the remaining portions of the apparatus.

While the preferred forms of embodiment of the invention have been described and illustrated, it is t0 be understood that various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

rIhe devices for securing the web-carrying spools in particular may be varied at will. In lieu of the disks having studs thereon for engagement with openings in the lower ends of the spools disks having any other preferred form of devices for securing the spools may be substituted for those shown, and l wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the form of spool-retaining` devices shown, but reserve the right to employ any other suitable devices for the same purpose.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a picture-exhibitor, the combination with a casing, of a pair of rotatable disks, spools detachably connected at corresponding ends to the disks, spring-pressed stationary spindles carried by the frame and engaging axial sockets in the other ends of the spools, means for rotating the disks, brakes frietionally engaging the ends of the spools which are supported by the spring-pressed spindles, and means for varying the pressure of the brakes.

2. In a picture-exhibitor, a rotatable disk having spool-engaging means consisting ol a plurality of studs upon its upper surface, a spool having in its bottom ange a plurality of openings for engagement with said studs, means for holding said spool in engagement with said studs, and means for imparting rotary movement to said disk.

3. In a picture-exhibitor, a pair of wobcarrying spools rotatably mounted, means for imparting movement to either of said spools, a rock-shaft disposed above said spools, and brake members carried by said rock-shaft and attached thereto at such angles that when one of said brake members engages one of said spools the other brake member is out of engagement with the other spool.

4. In a picture-exhibitor, the combination with a easing of a pair of web-carrying spools rotatably mounted therein, means fo r im par ting movement to either of said spools, a rockshaft disposed above said spools, brake members rigidly attached to said rock-shaft and disposed one over each spool, an arm projecting from said rock-shaft and forming means whereby the shaft may be turned in its bearings, and spring-catches adapted to engage with said arm to hold the rock-shaft in adjusted position.

5. In a picture-exhibitor, the combination with a casing provided with a view-opening` of upstanding rotatable spools within the casing at opposite sides of the view-opening, a picture-carrying web connected to the spools to travel across the view-opening, a motor located between one of the spools and the adjacent side of the casing, gears for the lower IOO vthrough the casing, a motor-controlling devicepiercing the casing to` give access thereto, a rock-shaft carried above the spools and provided with an arm projected through an opening in the top ofthe casing, and brake# I5 shoes carried by the rock-shaft and disposed for alternate frictional engagement with the adjacent ends of the respective spools.-

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in 2O the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES WILLrAM ANDERSON.'

Witnesses:A

E. M. JoNns, A. H. LUTHER. 

